Britain’s princes get the royal portrait treatment

Young, handsome, regal, yet casual and relaxed.

Sounds good. It is no surprise that Prince William and Prince Harry are very pleased with the first official oil portrait showing just the two of them.

The artist has helped nature a bit, replenishing Williams’ already thinning hair, but used a realistic depiction of Harry’s nose, which was broken in a high school rugby match.

The new painting of the youthful princes in full-dress military uniforms and assorted medals and sashes has been put on display at the National Portrait Gallery alongside other royal portraits, gallery spokesman Neil Evans said Thursday.

The gallery commissioned the work, painted by London-based artist Nicky Philipps after a series of sittings at her studio in the South Kensington neighborhood.

“It will be on display for at least six months,” said Evans.

A spokeswoman for the princes said they viewed the work before Christmas and were delighted with the way they are portrayed.

The work shows the princes having a casual moment outside the library at Clarence House, Prince Charles’ official residence, before reviewing the annual Trooping the Colour festivities in 2008. They are depicted wearing the dress uniform of the Household Cavalry that they wore that day.

Philipps said she chose the moment to capture “a behind-the-scenes glance at the human element of royal responsibility and to emphasize their brotherly relationship.”

She said the princes -- the sons of the late Princess Diana -- were “very good company” during the repeated sittings.

Philipps also said she was pleased with the profile of Harry and the depiction of his nose, which was broken during a rugby match when he was being schooled in Eton. Palace officials confirmed the injury, which was never made public, occurred when he was about 15.

In the portrait, William, second in line to the British throne, wears the sash and star of the Order of the Garter and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal. Harry wears the queen’s medal and the medal received for serving in Afghanistan.

The portrait has, predictably, divided London’s vociferous art critics.

Gregory Katz writes for the Associated Press.